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Dispatch From Dubai: Shahzad Was Headed to Islamabad

DUBAI—The man arrested late Monday in New York in connection with the Times Square attempted car bombing was headed to Islamabad, with a ticket that had him stopping in Dubai to transfer planes, according to two people familiar with the situation.

After a preliminary probe on Tuesday, Dubai and United Arab Emirates officials determined the man, identified by the U.S. as Faisal Shahzad and arrested aboard a Dubai-bound Emirates airline plane at John F. Kennedy airport, was scheduled to land in Dubai only as a transit stop, these people said.

U.S. and United Arab Emirates authorities were in contact with each other amid an international investigation into the Pakistan-born American citizen .

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A “preliminary” investigation by U.A.E. authorities suggests that Mr. Shahzad, hadn’t previously flown into the country, at least using personal details the U.S. has shared with the U.A.E., this person said. This person said the U.A.E. investigation is continuing.

The 30-year-old man was detained at 11:45 p.m. Monday at John F. Kennedy Airport as he was preparing to fly to Dubai, U.S. authorities said. Dubai International Airport is a major transit hub for passengers flying on to South East Asia and beyond.

The Mr. Shahzad’s name is a common one in Pakistan. But using details, such as the birth date contained on travel documents, investigators can narrow down lists of travelers coming through airports or checking into hotels and attempt to piece together their past or intended movements.

Dubai-based Emirates Airline, in a statement Tuesday, confirmed flight EK202 bound for Dubai was called back before taking off from New York and that three passengers were removed from the aircraft. It’s unclear if the two passengers taken off with Mr. Shahzad were connected to the investigation.

“Emirates is cooperating with the local authorities,” the airline said.